Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2011

Description

Background: The otoliths act as gravito-inertial force sensors and contribute to the perception of spatial orientation. The perception of gravitational vertical can be assessed by asking a subject to adjust a light bar to the vertical. Prior to clinical use of the SVV (subjective visual vertical) test, normative data and test-retest reliability must be established.

Purpose: To obtain normative data and d etermine the test-retest reliability for the SVV test performed in static and dynamic test conditions.

Research Design: A descriptive design was used to obtain normative data.

Study Sample: Twenty-four young adults with no history of neurological disease, middle-ear pathology, open or closed head injury, cervical injury, or audiovestibular disorder participated in the study.

Data Collection and Analysis: The SVV angle was measured in the static position and in three dynamic conditions: (1) on-axis clockwise (CW) rotation, (2) off-axis CW rotation of right ear, and (3) off-axis CW rotation of left ear.

Results: In young healthy individuals, the SVV was

Conclusions: The normative data obtained in this study may be useful in identifying patients with chronic utricular dysfunction. We recommend the use of difference angles (on-axis SVV ‐ off-axis SVV) to remove baseline bias and decrease the variability of the SVV angles for the off-axis conditions.